Goodbye to all solar panels in the world — HelioSkin photovoltaic fabric is the future

When we discuss solar panels, the first thing that comes to mind is the traditional type, composed of large plates with a hard structure. Solar energy is one of the most common alternative sources of energy. Due to its popularity, companies continually improve the technologies applied to solar panels. From new components to new structures that would help to lower the costs of a solar energy system, the advances made are being noticed, and this one may be the key to a new era with solar energy.

Maybe it is time to say goodbye to the old solar panels in the world

With technological advances, changes made to solar panel structures have improved several features, including the amount of energy produced and the cost of new installations. Besides the improvements, until now, all the solar panel systems have had the same basic structure, composed of a hard panel. 

Recently, a collaborative group was able to develop a new photovoltaic solar panel design that promises to change solar energy forever. With the efforts of architects, biologists, and physicists, the HelioSkin has arrived.

Designed to absorb maximum sunlight at the same time, it is attractive

The HelioSkin was developed by Tech Xplore, a group composed of professionals from multiple areas. Designed to be aesthetically attractive while being capable of absorbing the maximum sunlight, this new solar panel is composed of a base structure made of lightweight fabric, becoming the first photovoltaic panel in fabric.

At the same time that researchers found out that diamonds can be an important component for new solar panels, this group proved that it is possible to generate solar energy through a stretchable fabric that can be wrapped around its surroundings, without the need for a hard structure to be deployed. According to the professors who conducted the study, the HelioSkin can even be used to incorporate solar energy into skyscrapers and challenging architectural infrastructures.

This solar panel was created with 3D technology

According to the professors responsible for the creation of this new solar panel, Helio Skin was created using digital fabrication, computational design, and 3D printing. It is also inspired by the plants and how it’s cells grow and bend toward the sun to help with the sunlight absorption in nature.

As said by Jenny Sabin, leader of the project, the system is able to produce energy in a passive way, and can be used to create several environments in urban and rural places.

“Sustainability is about performance and function, but equally, it is about beauty and getting people to get excited about it, so they want to participate. The grand goal is to inspire widespread adoption of solar for societal impact”, states the professor.

Along with the studies on the fabric, thermal researchers were improving solar energy storage. With the new system, the efficiency of the conversion is higher, and the solar cells last longer. Together, these features may be able to turn HelioSkin into the future of solar panels, with competitive prices and multiple uses.

HelioSkin should be available for sale in two or three years.

Besides the advancements made, the HelioSkin is still a pilot project and should last up to three years. During this time, the second year will be dedicated to creating a backyard prototype.  The sales plans only begin during the third year, after tests and improvements are made. On evaluation, the HelioSkin seems to be a competitive device and is on par with the traditional structure of a solar panel. Indeed, it can also help to develop new giga-structures composed of solar panels and highly functional like this one.